Influence of emerging universities in the eastern region of Uganda on the performance of the Islamic University in Uganda.

Abstract

DISSERTATION: This study on the influence of emerging universities in Eastern region on the performance of the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) was carried out within the IUIU between 2004 – 2006. The study was prompted by the fact that there have been several Universities and University colleges affiliated to some Universities in the central region of Uganda emerging in the last 10 years. Prior to this the IUIU enjoyed the monopoly of provision of higher education in the eastern region. The emergence of the universities was thought to have had an effect on IUIU that was not clear thus calling for this kind of study.

The study adopted a survey research design in which interviews were used to collect data from university managers, Deans and heads of departments in the IUIU. Other interviews were held with members of the education office in Mbale, opinion and civic leaders. More data was collected through the use of questionnaires from students on the tasks that IUIU must focus on, the opportunities that the IUIU has over the emerging universities, the constraints faced by the IUIU and the possible strategies that IUIU could adopt so as to remain popular in the region.

The results of the study indicate that while there are a number of tasks that IUIU must focus on, there are more opportunities that the university has over the emerging universities in the eastern region. Among these is the fact that IUIU already has some infrastructure in the place that only needs to be expanded to match with the increasing students’ population. The IUIU has started generating its own internal revenue thereby reducing on the dependence syndrome.

It is concluded, from the evidence in the study that IUIU has the potential to remain popular in the region and view the emergence of other universities as a good development since they are not out to compete but to work with others in the development of future human resource for this country. The study recommends that the IUIU needs to review some of its programmes and incorporate in them marketable modules that will enable their graduates to adequately fit in the world of work.